Improvement in harvesters



UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

JAMES A.- OAULDWELL, OF VATKINS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO FRANK L. JOHN- SON, GEORGE JOHNSON, ORLANDO HURD, BRADFORD O. HURD, AND SAMUEL M. BARKER, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN HARVESTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 117,862, dated August S, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES A. CAULDwELL, of Vatkins, Schuyler county, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Harvesters, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing making part of this speciiication, in which- Figure lis a top view, partly in plan and partly in section, of a harvesting-machine embracing my improvements. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, with the inner drive-wheel removed for the purpose of better showing other parts; and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the sliding feathered clutch.

Similar letters of reference denote corresponding parts wherever used.

The invention relates to that class of machines known as the globe, 7 in which the gearing is mounted and inclosed within a spherical-shaped case, made in two parts, one part of which is expanded or extended in the form of a sleeve or tubular arm, while the other part is formed by the main gear-wheel, driven by and revolving with the main axle.

In this class of machines as usually constructed that portion of the shell to which the cutting` apparatus is attached is secured rigidly to the tongue or tongue-frame, and is thus supported against the lateral strain impart-ed by the cutting apparatus; hence the tubular sleeve and that portion of the shell with which it is connected have no vibration independent of the tongue or tongue-frame.

The object of this invention is to permit these parts to vibrate about the in ain axle as a center and then allow the cutting apparatus to conform more readily to the surface of the ground over which it is drawn 5 and to this end it consists: First, in providing that part of the shell to which the cutters are attached with a central sleeve inclosing the main axle, by means of which the shell is supported against the side draft of the cutters. Second, in providing the semi-spherical driving gear-wheel with a similar sleeve, mounted upon the axle to support it against the lateral thrust created by its bevel-gear. Third, in providing a bearing upon the sleeve of the inclosing shell for the inner end of the countershaft in the inclosing shell, so that this shell can vibrate independently of the tongue or tongueframe; and in certain details of construction, as will be explained.

In the accompanying drawing, A A represent the driving-wheels; B, the main axle; O D, the main or gear-frame and gear-casing; E, the tongue and seat-plate or frame; F, the tongue; G, the tubular arm or sleeve forming an arm oi fra-ine O to which the cutting apparatus is connected, H, a coupling-sleeve surrounding arm G and connecting the cuttingapparatus therewith; I, the inner pivoted shoe to which the finger-bar is connected 5 K K, the ratchet-wheels, L, the shippin g-clutch on the main axle, M, the cam; and N, the lever for operating the shifting-clutch L, as hereinafter described.

The construction and arrangement ofthe aboverecited parts are as follows, viz.: The axle B is made in one piece, and is grooved or recessed at various points in its length to receive removable strips or splines b b b', which serve to key the ratchet-wheels and shifting-clutch to the axle, the former b for connecting the drive-wheels A A, mounted loosely on the ends of the axle, with said axle, for rotating' the same, and the latter b for connecting the driving-gear with or disconecting it from the axle, as hereinafter explained. The main frame O is made in a hollow semi-spherical form, and is provided with a centra-l sleeve, G1, which surrounds the axle B, as represented in Fig. 1, and also with the tubular arm G, arranged tangentially to the case O, as shown in Fig. 2. The open end of the shell O is enlarged at C2 to permit it to receive the corresponding end of semi-spherical shell or case D, and is provided with bearings at c c formed in the iiange O2 and sleeve O1 to receive the pinion or counter-shaft O arranged at right angles to and in the same plane or thereabout with axle B. The semi-spherical shell D, like its counterpart O, is provided with a central sleeve D1, and is mounted loosely on the axle B. A collar, cx, keyed or otherwise fastened to the axle, serves to determine the position of the sleeves O1 Dl 011 said axle. The inner open end of shell D is beveled on its inner face, which is inclosed within the enlarged end or flange O2 of shell G, and is provided with teeth at D2 on said beveled face or end, which engage with and drive a pinion, O1, on thecolmtershaft O. The outer or closed end of shell D is grooved or recessed at (I, formin g an annular space surrounding the axle B, in which, and between shell D and clutch L, is placed a spiral spring, df, the tension of which, when not restrained, serves to force the clutch L and shell D apart or away from each other. The face of the shell D adjacent to clutch L is notched or recessed, and the face of clutch L is provided with spurs I, corresponding in number and form to the holes or notches in the adjacent face of shell D. The opposite face or end of the clutch abuts against a cani-ring, M, which is provided at one end with an inclined or cam-face extending' entirely around it and terminating in a square shoulder at m, (see Fig. 1,) and abutting against a correspondingly-inelined cam-face on the inner side of the loop or sleeve E which connects the outer arm of the seat and tongueplate with the axle B. rlhe cam-sleeve M' is armed with a lever, N, by means of which the attendant is enabled to rotate the cam-ring M on the axle and thereby to move the feathered clutch L longitudinally on the axle, overcoming the tension of spring d and enga g'ing the semispherical shell and bevel-wheel D with the axle, when desired. The rotation of the lever' and cam in an opposite direction leaves the spring d free to act, and forces the clutch outward or away from wheel D, as described. The shells G D, when arranged on the axle, as described, form a spherical inclosing-case, as represented in the sectional view, Fig. 1,one-half, C, being stationary and constituting the inain or gear-frame, and the other, D, rotating and constituting' the main driving-gear wheel, from which motion is i111- parted to the pinion or countershaft O through pinion O1. A straight spur-gear, 02, is keyed to or cast in one piece with shaft O and its driving-pinion 0l, sa id spurgear bein g dished or made in a Senn-spherical form to permit the spurred rim to bebrought i 11 close proximity to the sleeves C1 D1 surrounding its innear bearing c', and as near to the center or largest transverse diameter of the inclosing-case as practicable, thereby reducing' the size ofthe casin g required and enlarging the spur-wheel to the utmost capacity ofthe casino'. From the spur-wheel O2 motion is imparted to a straight pinion, O3, on the crankshaft, which is mounted in bearin in the tubular arm G. The casing C is cut away at l to accommodate the pinion O3, and provided with ahingedsemi-cyliiulricalbox-lid,1?', which serves to cover the projecting portion of the pinion O3 when the machine is in operation. rlhe casing C is provided at Q with a Vertical diaphragm or web, connecting the sleeve (J1 with the shell, and serving, in connection with a horizontal web or plate, Q1, and an end vertical plate, (Y, secured thereto, to form a tool-box within the shell (l, access to which and also to the gear-compartment oi the casing is had through an opening, R, which is closed, when the machine is in operation, by a hinged lid or door, R. The sleeve or arm G is provided, near its outer or vibrating end, with a horizontal stud projection, Gf, 011 which is mounted the lifting-lever S, provided with a toothed beveled segment, S1, which engages with a corresponding beveled segment, S2, on the couplingsleeve H, and serves, when the lever S is moved backward or forward, to raise or lower the outer end of the cutting apparatus by rotating the sleeve H on the arm G in a manner that will be readily understood. The sleeve His also provided with a horizontal arm terminating in a vertical iiange or disk, to which the shoe I is connected through the medium of standard I and a pivot, f1?, which permits the points of the cutters to be raised or depressed, as the condition of the crop may require. The tongue-plate E is forked at its rear end, and each arm is provided with a vertical fork or loop, E', which enibraces the axle B, and is secured in place thereon by a pin or bolt, e. The forward end of plate E is provided with a socket in which the tongue F is firmly fastened. rlhe seat-standard T is bolted to the rear end of the tongue (or to the tongue-plate, if preferred) and extends back over the casing C D into position to partially counteract the weight of the cutting apparatus upon the tongue, when said cutting apparatus is raised for reapil 1 g or for transportation, by lifting' devices mounted 011 the tongue. U is a vertical rackplate or standard bolted to the side ofthe tongue or tongue-Nate, and V is alifting-lever, pivoted at u to rack-plate U, and provided with a grooved segment-sheave, V', from which a cord, w, passes, connecting it with the forward end of a-rm Gr, through a pin or arm, g, projecting through a slot in sleeve H for raising the arm G and the inner end ofthe cutting apparatus. A weighted dog, a, pivoted to the lever V, engages with the curved rack on plate U, for holding the lever at the desired adjustment'. Said dog is released by the pressure of the drivers foot upon its short upper end. X is one of the backing ratchetpawls, shown detached in Fig. et. Said pawls are made convex on their inner face, and are provided centrally of their length with pivots m, which it into sockets in the inner faces of the driving-wheel or hub. The inner convex face of the pawl is armed with a flat spring', au', attached to the pawl at one end and extending' to a point about midway of the length of the pawl, its free end bearing against the hub of the wheel and serving to hold the pawl engaged with the ratchet in the iorward movement of the machine, but yielding to allow the teeth to slip by when the machine is backed.

lVhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The semi-spherical case or shell C, provided with the tubular arm Gr and central sleeve mounted upon and vibrating about the main axle, in combination with the independently vibrating tongue, substantially as described.

2. rlhe semi-spherical shell or case C, provided with'the sleeve C', having a bearing thereon for the inner end of the countershait 0, and with a bea-ring for the outer end of said shaft, substanthe vibrating tubular arm or sleeve G, in colnf tia-ily its set forth. bination with the coupling-sleeve and toothed 3. In combination with the shell C, gear-Wheel segment, also mounted on sleeve G, as described.

D, eountersharft O, and main axle B, the collar JAMES A. CAULDWELL.

or stop 0X, whereby a proper relation between the shell O, Wheel D, Clutch L, and Gaim Mis l'nain- Witnesses tained. ORLANDO HURD,

4. The toothed segment-lever S, mounted on A. T. ABBEY. 

